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Rams land 3 on preseason MW team

CSU picked third in the Mountain, receive 1 first-place vote

By Mike Brohard

Sports Editor

Posted:
07/22/2014 08:51:38 AM MDT

Colorado State senior tackle Ty Sambrailo (51) and tight end Kivon Cartwright, background, were two of three Rams named to the preseason all-Mountain West team Tuesday in voting done by the media. They are joined on the team by CSU kicker Jared Roberts. (Karl Gehring / THE DENVER POST)

Preseason All-Mountain West team

Offense

QB — Chuckie Keeton, Sr., Utah State

RB — Jay Ajayi, Jr., Boise State

RB — Donnel Pumphrey, So., San Diego State

WR — Matt Miller, Sr., Boise State

WR — Devante Davis, Sr., UNLV

OL — Ty Sambrailo, Sr., Colorado State

OL — Cody Wichmann, Sr., Fresno State

OL — LaMar Bratton, Sr., New Mexico

OL — Brett Boyko, Sr., UNLV

OL — Robert Waterman, Sr., UNLV

TE — Kivon Cartwright, Sr., Colorado State

Defense

DL — Tyeler Davison, Sr., Fresno State

DL — Brock Hekking, Sr., Nevada

DL — B.J. Larsen, Sr., Utah State

DL — Eddie Yarbrough, Jr., Wyoming

LB — Ejiro Ederaine, Jr., Fresno State

LB — Kyler Fackrell, Jr., Utah State

LB — Zach Vigil, Sr. Utah State

DB — Deonte Deayon, Jr., Boise State

DB — Jeremy Ioane, Sr., Boise State

DB — Derron Smith, Sr., Fresno State

DB — J.J. Whittaker, Sr., San Diego State

Specialists

PK — Jared Roberts, Sr., Colorado State

P — Garrett Swanson, Jr., Fresno State

KR — Carlos Wiggins, Jr., New Mexico

Preseason Picks

Mountain Division

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(first-place votes); points

1. Boise State (20) 183

2. Utah State (12) 176

3. Colorado State (1) 135

4. Wyoming 90

5. New Mexico 56

6. Air Force 53

West Division

1. Fresno State (15) 174

2. San Diego State (15) 172

3. Nevada (3) 130

4. UNLV 95

5. San Jose State 87

6. Hawaii 35

LAS VEGAS — From the start, Colorado State football coach Jim McElwain said the program had to go about rebuilding the respect the program once carried.

On Tuesday, the Rams took a small step in preseason voting done by media who cover the Mountain West, placing three players on the preseason all-conference team and receiving one first-place vote while being picked to place third in the Mountain Division.

All of CSU's picks are seniors on the offensive side of the ball — tackle Ty Sambrailo, tight end Kivon Cartwright and kicker Jared Roberts — all of whom contributed to the Rams' record-setting offensive season.

Boise State (20 first-place votes, 183 points) was tabbed first in the Mountain, followed by Utah State (12, 176). Trailing CSU (135 points) were Wyoming (90), New Mexico (56) and Air Force (53).

"It's nice that people are starting to take notice," McElwain said. "I look at it as if it is a credit to the work that the kids put in and the team has put in to have some people at least start to know what your name is."

In the West Division, Fresno State and San Diego State each received 15 first-place votes, but the Bulldogs take the top spot with an edge in points, 174-172. Nevada, with three first-place votes, was third (130), followed by UNLV (95), San Jose State (87) and Hawaii (35).

Sambrailo, named to the Rotary Lombardi Watch List, has 31 career starts and is the lone returning starting lineman for the Rams this year. He is one of nine active offensive linemen with more than 2,500 career snaps (2,514). He graded out above 89 percent in every contest in 2013, recording 47 knockdown blocks and earned second-team all-MW honors at the end of the season.

Cartwright finished last season with 27 catches for 462 yards and six touchdowns, earning honorable mention all-conference. Named to the Mackey Award watch list, he enters the season with 56 career receptions for 835 yards.

While the preseason honors are humbling, Cartwright said they mean little if he doesn't continue to improve on the field.

"It's recognition of the work I did last year," said the senior who formed a dynamic combo at the spot for the Rams along with Crockett Gillmore. "Going forward, it doesn't mean anything other than I have to keep working and keep working hard.

"I've never put strict number goals. My goal is just to play hard and just keep getting better week by week, game by game, trying to help my team win."

Roberts, a first-team all-MW pick at the end of 2013, returns as the program's most accurate kicker of all time (88.2 percent). He made 21-of-24 field goals last year and all 58 of his point-after attempts to finish with 121 points. Named to the Groza Award watch list, Roberts has made 30-of-34 career field-goal attempts in his career.

"They are leaders, and they've done a great job," McElwain said. "I think there's some other guys who may take that and hopefully use it as motivation as well, whatever it takes as far as moving forward."

The Rams posted an 8-6 mark last year with a bowl win, and at least one voter believes the program is headed quickly in the right direction, a point of pride for the players.

"Especially from a couple of years ago; we've come a long way," linebacker Aaron Davis said. "That's exciting for us, but we've got to prepare. It's a new season, and we're going to try to do better than last year."

Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keaton was picked as the preseason offensive player of the year; Derron Smith of Fresno State was the defensive pick; and New Mexico kick returner Carlos Wiggins was the special teams player of the year.

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